When candidates are prevented from filing nominations, how can they be called unanimous elections?
- Do the attacks, threats and house arrests not matter?
- When democracy is being undermined, is Eenadu’s job merely to sing the praises of the TDP?
- Can an election be called unanimous when candidates are not even allowed to file nominations?
- Threats, attacks and intimidation have reduced the democratic process to a mockery.
- YSRCP candidates faced tearing of nomination papers, house arrests and physical attacks.
- Yet Eenadu did not highlight these injustices and atrocities.
- Instead, it carried reports projecting greater chances of victory for the ruling coalition.
- In Kadapa, Pulivendula, Punganur, Rayachoti, Tirupati, Darsi, Allagadda, Gooty and several other places, coalition cadres went on a rampage.
- The election process was one-sided, and the reporting was equally partisan.
During the three-day nomination process for the local body elections across Andhra Pradesh, TDP leaders and workers unleashed violence and intimidation at several places, undermining the democratic process. Yet Eenadu chose to publish stories about “unanimous victories”, ignoring the circumstances under which YSRCP candidates were prevented from filing nominations.
Coalition workers stopped YSRCP candidates from even entering nomination centres. Police too acted in support of them, and in some places pointed firearms at YSRCP candidates and drove them away from nomination centres. Incidents were reported from Kadapa, Pulivendula, Punganur, Tirupati, Tadipatri, Dharmavaram, Allagadda, Gurazala, Piduguralla and Dachepalli. Yet these incidents found little space in Eenadu. Instead, where YSRCP candidates could not file nominations, the newspaper described the coalition candidates as being elected unanimously. Political observers and journalists have questioned such reporting, asking whether TDP violence and attacks on the democratic process are invisible to Eenadu.
Attack on MP Midhun Reddy’s convoy in Punganur
In Punganur, YSRCP Lok Sabha floor leader and MP P.V. Midhun Reddy was accompanying party candidates to file nominations when TDP workers attacked his convoy with stones, sticks and iron rods. The incident created serious tension in the town. In another incident in the same town, Ward 9 candidate S.M. Nayaz was travelling with his wife to file a nomination when they were stopped, attacked and their nomination papers were snatched away. These incidents took place in the presence of police. Why did Eenadu fail to give them due prominence?
Attacks at Nomination Centres in Kadapa
Several attacks on YSRCP candidates and leaders were reported near nomination centres in Kadapa Municipal Corporation. At the Gandhinagar nomination centre, candidates were attacked with sticks, papers were snatched from their hands and women candidates were targeted. Party workers said Murad, the son of a former corporator, was attacked with a knife. They also said a former Deputy Mayor was attacked while accompanying a relative to file a nomination. Threats were also issued warning candidates that they would be killed if they attempted to file nominations. When such incidents occurred, is it responsible journalism to ignore them and focus only on “unanimous victories”?
Police Firing and Tear Gas in Pulivendula
YSRCP leaders said their candidates were prevented from filing nominations in Pulivendula. Even after the issue was brought to the attention of the SP and DIG and time was reportedly given for filing nominations, police obstructed the candidates during that period. The lathi-charge, use of tear gas and firing into the air triggered serious controversy. The circumstances surrounding police vehicles and stone-pelting also require a comprehensive inquiry. Ignoring these developments while highlighting only the coalition’s unanimous victories keeps the public away from the full picture.
Attack on YSRCP Office in Rayachoti
In Rayachoti, the YSRCP office was set on fire and vehicles parked outside were burnt. Constituency in-charge Gadikota Srikanth Reddy was inside the office at the time. Party sources said YSRCP chairperson candidate Jinna Sharif faced repeated attacks. When such incidents damage the democratic atmosphere, publishing reports about unanimous victories while ignoring the violence goes against the basic responsibility of journalism.
Tirupati Mayoral Candidate’s Struggle to File Nomination
YSRCP leaders said mayoral candidate Vasu Yadav faced threats when he went to file his nomination in Tirupati. MP Gurumoorthy, who accompanied him, was also stopped and attempts were made to snatch the nomination papers. After repeated attempts, Vasu Yadav staged a protest in the rain along with his mother. Only later did officials accept his nomination. When a candidate had to struggle this much merely to exercise the right to file a nomination, why did Eenadu’s coverage fail to give adequate importance to it?
Similar Situation in Badvel, Rajampet and Darsi
YSRCP leaders said nomination papers already submitted by their candidates in Badvel were torn after people entered the office.
- In Rajampet, the chairperson candidate and her father were attacked while returning after filing the nomination.
- In Darsi, YSRCP candidates were prevented from filing nominations. Attacks on women, candidates and party workers raise serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the election process.
How Can seats be called unanimous where nominations were not allowed?
YSRCP sources said that in Mydukur Municipality, party candidates could file nominations in only four of the 32 wards.
- In Badvel, nominations could not be filed in several of the 40 wards, while nomination papers already submitted were torn in some cases.
- In Kamalapuram and Yerraguntla, nominations, including those for the chairperson posts, could not be filed.
- In Jammalamadugu, YSRCP sources said nominations were filed in only 18 of the 32 wards.
- In Rajampet, nominations were filed in only seven of the 32 wards, while the papers submitted for the chairperson post were torn.
- In Rayachoti, nominations could not be filed for the chairperson post and across 44 wards.
- In Punganur, YSRCP said candidates were prevented from filing nominations for the chairperson post as well as across all 36 wards.
- In Darsi, nominations were filed in only three of the 28 wards.
YSRCP leaders also said chairperson candidates in Gurazala, Dachepalli and Piduguralla were unable to file nominations. In Dachepalli, the chairperson candidate was booked in a liquor case and arrested. In Piduguralla too, candidates were arrested, prompting intervention by the High Court. These developments require a comprehensive inquiry.
A Newspaper Must Question Power, Not Praise It
YSRCP leaders said party leaders and workers across the state were placed under house arrest, booked in cases and prevented from participating freely in the nomination process.
Every candidate must be given an equal opportunity to participate in an election. That responsibility rests with the election machinery. At the same time, the media has a responsibility to present the full picture to the public.
Ignoring attacks, threats, tearing of nomination papers and arrests of candidates, while describing seats where opposition candidates could not even file nominations as “unanimous victories” of the ruling coalition, fails to present the complete reality.
Eenadu must answer whether it gave adequate space to these incidents, whether it presented the accounts of those affected with equal importance, and whether it questioned the role of the authorities.
Freedom of the press is important, but so is journalistic responsibility. Instead of giving priority only to reports favourable to the ruling party, the media must bring to light all incidents that occurred during the election process in an impartial manner. The media has a responsibility to protect the democratic principle of free and fair elections by presenting the complete facts before the people.
